Long-term mission: organisations and roles - how do I decide?

Posted on 21 June 2023 by Global Connections

Person in a field deciding about long term mission organisational and roles.

Remember that no job or mission agency is perfect!

If you're hoping to work with a mission organisation, the important thing is to think through and find an agency who will work alongside your church to provide the support and encouragement you need.

If you're looking for a specific job opportunity - or just getting some ideas of possibilities - here are some suggestions for how you might go about that.

How do I choose which organisation to go with?

Most importantly, your home church has a key role in sending you and is the place to begin.

If you decide you would like to work with a mission agency, remember that you are sent by your church, and partnering with a mission agency. Mission agencies and organisations exist to help churches fulfil God’s mandate for world mission - not the other way round.
You could also be sent by a church directly without a mission agency. Or your church could partner directly with a host church or organisation overseas. These are things to talk about right from the start of the process with your home church.
If the consensus is that partnering with a mission organisation is the best for you and your church, then read on...
But however you go, do so humbly and with a servant heart.

Partnership

Think about how this organisation might work alongside your church and maintain links once you’re abroad. Talk with your church leaders and use their wisdom to help you in the decision-making process - they need to be willing to partner with the organisation in sending you.

Narrow it down

Once you have some idea either of the type of work you could do, an area of the world to work in, or a people group you would like to work amongst, you can begin to narrow the field considerably. Look at those organisations that are of most relevance, read some introductory information, and pray about your choice.

Need

On the other hand, it is good to consider where there is most need. Think and pray about your involvement with organisations working in areas and places where people are most unreached. Be prepared to be challenged or re-directed. Perhaps there is more need for you in places or projects which you haven’t yet considered.

Fit

Look for a ‘fit’ with the organisation you are thinking you might go with. Do you and your church share their vision and values? Check out their mission and vision statements. If possible, go along to one of their events in the UK to meet some of the team and learn more.

Theology

Examine their theological or doctrinal statement – and their outworking of that. What is important to them and does it tie in with what’s important to you? (e.g. if you’re charismatic, is it charismatic? If you’re reformed, is it reformed?) Is your church also in agreement?

Care

Will you (and your family) be looked after whilst you are serving with this agency? What level of pastoral care do they provide - in the UK and overseas? Do they have good support systems in place? What about if you run into difficulties? And are they also willing to help on your return?

Sense of calling

Talk with the mission organisation about your sense of how God is guiding you – is it to a people, a place or a cause? Or something else? To what extent are they willing to explore the area of 'calling and guidance with you?

Preparation

Ask about the selection process and what happens if you are selected and choose to go with them – do you understand and are you and your church comfortable with the process? What orientation, training and debriefing do they provide?

Finances

Ask about the financial arrangements – what systems are in place and how much money do you need to raise (if you do)? What help will they offer with this? Is your church also willing to partner with you in this way?

Research

If possible, speak to a missionary or someone who already works for the organisation you're thinking of joining and in the area you're considering. See what you can learn from their first-hand experience of working with this agency.

Suitability

Remember too that the organisation needs to consider how well you might fit into one of their teams – they also need to select you! It's a two-way process. Are you willing to submit to their guidance?

Your church

A further reminder - your home church has the key role in sending you and is the place to begin any discussions about the possibility of you working overseas. Are you also willing to submit to their guidance and direction in this process?

The local church is not some speed bump to work around for the sake of fulfilling the great commission but rather is the God-ordained, Spirit-filled, Jesus'-blood-purchased, living organism through which God will fulfil his redemptive plan.

The Sending Collective

Ann-Marie's experience

"As I entered the last 6 months at All Nations Christian College, imagine my surprise when my Church Mission Board told me they required me to find a sending agency before I could be a fully supported Mission Partner and commence what I felt was my calling. "

Find out more about Ann-Marie Wilson's experience in Choosing a Mission Agency

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There are so many long-term opportunities, how can I find the one that’s right for me?

At a first glance through the opportunities listed on our website, the choice can seem a bit overwhelming. There are so many great options to choose from in world mission, and this is representative of the diversity of needs that exist in today's world!

However, there are a number of ways you can narrow down your search based on any or all of the following:

Search by 'sector' - are you looking for roles in admin, finance, HR and recruitment, international development, buildings and maintenance..? We have over 30 different categories to choose from.
Maybe location is more important to you? You can search by world region or search by country. The choices range from Bangladesh to Bolivia, Czech Republic to Cote D’Ivoire! (Although if it's just a great location you're looking for, you might be better to try your local travel agency than your local mission agency!) It might be worth picking out three or four countries (or regions) that perhaps you, or your church, already have some kind of connection with and starting there. Do also think and pray about your involvement in those areas and places where people are most unreached. Be prepared to be challenged or re-directed. Perhaps there is more need for you in places or projects which you haven’t yet considered.
Or perhaps you are looking for what a particular organisation that you, or your church already have links with, has to offer?

Once you've started to narrow down the options:

Read the stories of those who have done this before you, browse the organisation websites, send an email, make a phone call, and ask lots of questions - doing this will help you get a feel for what might be possible. Investigate it thoroughly.
Think about how you are already serving in your local church - when you apply to a mission agency, they will ask what involvement you’ve had locally. This is important, because it’s difficult to see why you should want to serve God and share your faith in some overseas location if you haven’t first been doing it at home.
Be aware that it might not be possible for a mission agency to provide you with an exact job description and job roles may change along your recruitment journey. The nature of cross-cultural mission can often be a fluid one – a long term flexible perspective is necessary.
Try to let go of the idea that there is one thing that’s ‘just right for you’ - there probably isn’t!
Most importantly, pray and talk with your church leaders and those who know you well right from the start.

"Search for an opportunity with the attitude that it’s a chance for you to serve God and his church throughout the world, rather than focussing solely on what you initially think is best for yourself – you might be amazed at how God could use you."

Anon